Record Cleaning Machine ~ Ultrasonic vs. Rest

@dogberry

What a fascinating and personal connection to the history of Loricraft and Garrard! Terry O’Sullivan’s work clearly left a lasting legacy, both in preserving the Garrard name and in creating innovative products like the Loricraft cleaners. It’s wonderful that you had the chance to interact with him! 

IMHO, SME done a fine job in restoring and honoring that tradition of quality and craftsmanship with both brands albeit at a cost that is simply out of reach for many. Who would be willing to pay $30K for SME Garrard 301 Classic :-)

@lewn,

Regarding the composition of vinyl records; vinyl records are not a stable polymer of just carbon and hydrogen. Vinyl records contain a significant amount of chlorine and oxygen and a variety of additives. The thermoplastic resin used to produce vinyl phonograph records consist of copolymers of vinyl chloride (PVC) and vinyl acetate (PVAc). The ratio of PVAc to PVC varies depending on the particular formulation. The total PVAc/PVC copolymer can be 75-96% of the record weight. The other 4%-25% are additives that are critical to the performance, and stability of the vinyl record. These additives are not covalently bonded to the copolymer matrix but are merely incorporated within the copolymer matrix and therefore can be leeched out. The stabilizers are typically metal salts of fatty acids or similar organometallic compounds. The metals are typically lead, tin, barium and cadmium. Other stabilizers include phenolic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytolune (BHT)

PVC is not a stable polymer without the addition of these heat and UV stabilizers. Without proper stabilizers, PVC will readily degrade via a dehydrochlorination reaction which liberates HCl and is an autocatylic reaction. Even with stabilizers, PVC can degrade over time but the degradation process is reduced with stabilizers.

According to the RCA vinyl record patent 1498409551006799538-03960790- the PVCa copolymer equals 96.2%.  The remaining ingredients are varied in purpose and specified with reasons for each additive and its concentration.  The heat stabilizer is described as follows:  

One-and-six-tenths percent of an organotin salt (resin stabilizer) is included in the compound to neutralize the generation of hydrogen chloride gas (which is produced by partial decomposition of the polyvinyl chloride resin) when the compound is pressed into a record at the normal pressing temperature. The presence of hydrogen chloride gas creates blisters and voids under the record surface and in the record surface, which cause noise when the record is played.